Stress - General Adaptation Syndrome

Question 1

Hans Selye introduced the General Adaptation Syndrome in 1936. What is it and what are the main stages?

Answer 1

The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) shows the alleged effects of stress on the body. Hans Seyle observed that the body responds to stress in a predictable biological pattern. The 3 stages are: 1. Alarm Stage 2. Resistance Stage 3. Exhaustion Stage

Question 2

What are the key positive features of the ALARM stage in helping you deal with stress?

Answer 2

• Your first reaction to stress recognises the danger and prepares for fight or flight. - Activation of HPA axis, the nervous system (SNS) and adrenal glands takes place - Cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline are released to provide instant energy - The stressful event is met with a sudden jolt of hormonal change and you are immediately equipped to deal with the event.

Question 3

What are the potential NEGATIVE features of the ALARM stage (stage 1) in helping you deal with stress?

Answer 3

• If the energy is not used in physical activity it can become harmful - Too much adrenaline causes a surge of blood pressure that can damage vessels of the the heart and brain, a risk factor in heart attack and stroke - Excess production of cortisol can cause damage to cells and muscle tissues. CV conditions, strokes, gastric ulcers and high sugar levels are all cortisol related disorders.

Question 4

What happens in the RESISTANCE stage (stage 2)?

Answer 4

• The body may have dealt with the stressful event and starts to restore balance in this second stage - Stress hormone levels return to normal although you may have reduced defences (and energy) at this point - If the stress continues you continue in efforts to resist and remain in a state of arousal (energised) without being able to recover - If stress continues you continue to release stress hormones to help deal with the events

Question 5

What happens in the Exhaustion stage (stage 3)?

Answer 5

• in this stage the stress has continued for some time - the body’s ability to resist is lost because the ‘adaptive’ energy supply is gone - this stage is often referred to as overload, burnout, adrenal fatigue - stress levels go up and stay up - this stage is hazardous to health - chronic stress leads to damage of nerve cells in tissues and organs, anxiety and depression can occur. High blood pressure, heart disease and other stress related illness can occur.

Question 6

If you were to draw the General Adaptation Syndrome as a graph with ‘time and continuing stress’ as the X axis and ‘resistance to stress’ as the Y axis, wht would it look like?

Answer 6

• Stage 1 (Alarm) would show a sudden increase in the resistance to stress. Stage 2 (Resistance) would show high resistance as the body begins to cope with the stressful event and stage 3 (Exhaustion) would show lower levels of resistance as the body becomes unable to deal with the continued stress.